Water dispensing device

Abstract

A water dispensing device according to an embodiment disclosed herein includes: a water supply path through which raw water supplied from a water supply source flows; a filter that generates purified water by filtering the raw water supplied via the water supply path; a purified-water path through which the purified water that has passed through the filter flows; a water quality measurement unit that is connected to the purified-water path and measures the water quality of the purified water; a sterilization path, one side of which branches from the water supply path and the other side of which is connected to the filter; a sterilization module that is provided on the sterilization path and heats the water passing through the sterilization path; a water outlet port through which the purified water is discharged; a water outlet path that guides the purified water to the water outlet port; and a water outlet sterilization module that emits ultraviolet rays at the water outlet port.

1 . A water dispensing device, comprising:
 a water supply path through which raw water supplied from a water supply source flows;   a filter that generates purified water by filtering the raw water supplied via the water supply path;   a purified-water path through which the purified water that has passed through the filter flows;   a water quality measurement unit that is connected to the purified-water path and measures the water quality of the purified water;   a sterilization path, one side of which branches from the water supply path and the other side of which is connected to the filter;   a sterilization module that is provided on the sterilization path and heats the water passing through the sterilization path;   a water outlet port through which the purified water is discharged;   a water outlet path that guides the purified water to the water outlet port; and   a water outlet sterilization module that emits ultraviolet rays at the water outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The water dispensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit that selectively operates the sterilization module and the water outlet sterilization module to perform a sterilization operation based on water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit. 
     
     
         3 . The water dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit corresponds to contamination level 1, the purified water is released normally through the water outlet port; and   when the water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit corresponds to contamination level 2 or higher, which is a contamination level higher than contamination level 1, the release of water is stopped.   
     
     
         4 . The water dispensing device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a drainage path branched from the water outlet path between the water quality measurement unit and the water outlet port through which the raw water or the purified water is drained; and   a drainage pump disposed in the drainage path.   
     
     
         5 . The water dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein, when the water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit corresponds to contamination level 2, the drainage pump is operated to discharge residual water into the drainage path. 
     
     
         6 . The water dispensing device of  claim 4 , wherein, when the water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit corresponds to contamination level 2, the water outlet sterilization module is operated. 
     
     
         7 . The water dispensing device of  claim 4 , further comprising a water outlet valve selectively supplying the raw water or the purified water to the water outlet path and the drainage path. 
     
     
         8 . The water dispensing device of  claim 3 , wherein, when the water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit corresponds to contamination level 3, which is a contamination level higher than contamination level 2, the sterilization module is operated. 
     
     
         9 . The water dispensing device of  claim 8 , wherein the purified-water path and the water outlet path are sterilized with high temperature water released from the sterilization module. 
     
     
         10 . The water dispensing device of  claim 8 , wherein, when the water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit corresponds to contamination level 3, the water outlet sterilization module is operated. 
     
     
         11 . The water dispensing device of  claim 8 , wherein, when the water quality data measured by the water quality measurement unit corresponds to contamination level 4, which is a contamination level higher than contamination level 3, the sterilization module and the water outlet sterilization module operate together. 
     
     
         12 . The water dispensing device of  claim 11 , wherein, when the water outlet sterilization module operates at contamination levels 3 and 4, the water outlet sterilization module emits ultraviolet rays for a longer period of time at contamination level 4 than at contamination level 3. 
     
     
         13 . The water dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the water quality measurement unit re-measures the water quality of the purified water after passing the purified water therethrough at least once when the measured water quality data is higher than a contamination reference value. 
     
     
         14 . The water dispensing device of  claim 13 , further comprising an output unit that displays water quality information when the measured water quality data is not higher than the contamination reference value. 
     
     
         15 . The water dispensing device of  claim 13 , wherein the water quality measurement unit increases a waiting time until a next water quality measurement when performing the water quality re-measurement. 
     
     
         16 . The water dispensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensing path branched from the water supply path and through which the raw water flows,
 wherein the water quality measurement unit measures the water quality of the purified water when the purified water enters through the purified-water path and measures the water quality of the raw water when the raw water enters through the sensing path.   
     
     
         17 . The water dispensing device of  claim 16 , wherein the water quality measurement unit measures the water quality of the purified water after performing a rinse operation in which the purified water passes through at least once when measuring the water quality of the raw water. 
     
     
         18 . The water dispensing device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a switching valve for supplying the raw water to the water supply path or the sterilization path; and   a sensing valve for opening and closing the sensing path.   
     
     
         19 . The water dispensing device of  claim 1 , wherein the water quality measurement unit comprises a turbidity sensor that emits light at the raw water or a portion of the purified water and senses turbidity based on a pattern of scattered light received. 
     
     
         20 . The water dispensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hot water path branched from the purified-water path at one side;   a hot water module provided in the hot water path to heat purified water passing through the hot water path;   a cold water path branched from the purified-water path at one side; and   a cold water module provided in the cold water path to cool purified water passing through the cold water path.